The Value of Hospice: NEW Research and Advocacy Resources!

Hospice Action Network

New research shows that, in just one year, hospice care resulted in billions of savings to Medicare. NHPCO in partnership with NAHC worked with NORC at the University of Chicago on this landmark study. This research could not come at a more critical time to demonstrate the value of hospice to policymakers and communities. This data shows that increasing, not cutting, investments in hospice will result in greater savings and improved quality of care. The data also shows that hospice provides multiple benefits to patient and family wellbeing.  

Key findings from the study include:   

• For patients who received hospice care in 2019, Medicare spending was $3.5 billion less than similar individuals who did not use hospice care. 
 
• On average, earlier enrollment in hospice (lengths of 11 days or more) resulted in Medicare savings..  
• Even for patients who spent six months or more in hospice, Medicare spending was on average 11% lower compared to patients who did not use hospice.
• At any length of stay, hospice care benefits patients, family members, and caregivers, including increased satisfaction and quality of life, improved pain control, reduced physical and emotional distress, and reduced prolonged grief.

What this means for hospice policy

• Hospice care saves money for taxpayers and improves end-of-life care for millions of Americans. Yet roughly half of Medicare patients never use hospice, and many who do are only in it for a short period of time.
• We need policies that enable more patients to access hospice when the time is right. Longer lengths of stay, when appropriate, will provide greater benefits to patients and the Medicare system.
• We must oppose policies that would cut hospice payments. Such policies would have negative consequences for quality of care, access to care, and taxpayer dollars. 

Learn more 

• NHPCO's press release about the study

• The study's executive summary (2 pages)

• NHPCO and NAHC Webinar on the study - to view, simply register and you will be taken to the webinar recording (1 hour )

Share these resources on your social networks with the hashtag #HospiceWorks!
Call on others to Sign Up to be a hospice advocate and join our cause today!

Thank you for being an advocate for hospice and palliative care patients, families, and providers. By supporting our efforts, you are helping policymakers and communities understand the value of hospice and palliative care.